Madang Province

In a statement released today, the company says  that it strictly implements world standard “Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems” in compliance with relevant PNG mining standards and procedures.

The company said this following a call by the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Richard Maru to conduct a full scale investigation into safety and operation standards following an alleged murder of one of Ramu NiCo’s Kurumbukari mine operators.

Ganglau village elder and clinic chairman Sibi Dub says since independence other parts of the country are progressing but Raicoast had been forgotten and left behind.

Dub says the road infrastructure is going from bad to worse, people are forced to cross the river and walk a long way to get to goods and services, mothers and children are dying due to the collapse of  health services.

He says mothers giving birth and dying on the spot with child was happening often with a major fall  also happening in education facilities.

Elated local MP and Agriculture and Livestock Minister Tommy Tomscoll who was present at the graduation praised the good work of the teachers and revealed the good news as the way forward for Middle-Ramu District.

He says the primary school just this year got it’s first Grade 8 classes and was also upgraded to become a primary school and the news of topping the province in the exams is welcome news that Middle Ramu values education and can produce bright students for the future.

The provincial governor threw the challenge to the National Government and Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) project investors to consult his office for input. "

“We have not gained from previous investments," Kas said at the PMIZ launching yesterday in Madang.

He said that "PMIZ will trigger economic development (and) the thoughts of the provincial government and impacted communities must be considered."

PMIZ is situated close to RD Tuna Cannery at Vidar, Madang Province.

This project will be developed on 215 hectares of land.

100 hectares is designated to host canneries and 115 hectares for residential and commercial purposes.

The project was delayed for five years because of Court proceedings instigated by landowners.

In a statement today Trade Minister Richard Maru said "the PMIZ concessional loan has been extended by the China Exim Bank to pave way for the construction of the PMIZ project to start.

The ground breaking ceremony will happen to tommrow (Monday) at the project site in Vidar, Madang.

The key note address and launching will be done by Prime Minster Peter O'Neill.

Once off the ground, it will see the construction of more fishing canneries.

It will increase employment and also generate income.

Investigators will be there tomorrow tot investigate the crash that happened  at about 10 past 12pm.

Chief executive of the PNG Accident Investigation Commission Captain David Inau confirmed the crash with Loop PNG this afternoon but was not able to give any further information.

Capatain Inau says that the aircraft departed Madang for Kumbako and on approach to landing it crashed.

At the time of the crash there were three people on board including the pilot.

It means, families there will have to source their own drinking water from traditional sources like wells, many of which are contaminated.

Rudolf Mungali from the Madang Disaster office told LOOP news today “it is not possible to take fresh water to Manam Islanders because there is no means of transporting a huge number of water supplies.”

These two were casualties of the eruption at Manam island yesterday morning.

Charles Yanda at the Asurumba care Centre in Bogia told LOOP PNG, both boys  sustained injuries to their heads when the Manam volcano spewed dust and stones into the atmosphere.

The 5 year old was in Dugulava village when he was hit unconscious by a stone blown out into the sky.

His father quickly put him into a canoe and paddled for at least four hours to get to Bogia.

The teenager a student in the Baliau village was also hit on the head by a volcano stone.